What is Programming?

Imagine you want to tell a robot exactly how to make a sandwich. You can't just say "make me a sandwich" — you have to give it step-by-step instructions: pick up the bread, spread the butter, add the filling, close it.

A program is exactly that — a list of precise, step-by-step instructions given to a computer to accomplish a task. Instructions must be written in a programming language the computer can understand. Once written, the instructions are executed (run) by the computer.